IVF babies at no greater risk of neurodevelopmental disorders

Scientists say contrary to popular belief, babies conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or test tubes are just as healthy as those conceived naturally.

They say IVF treatment does not increase the risk of developmental problems during early infancy.

The researchers from the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, looked at the spontaneous movements, known as general movements, in 125 infants conceived following IVF at three months of age and compared then with a control group of 90 babies born naturally.

All the parents had been referred to a fertility clinic for fertility evaluation or treatment.

Lead researcher Dr. Karin Middelburg says the study found the quality of movement was similar between the control group and the IVF group, regardless of whether conventional therapy or a modified natural cycle was used.

When they were compared to 450 children in the general population, the researchers found both groups faired slightly worse than the general population.

They say that babies born by IVF are not at increased risk of cerebral palsy or other neuro-developmental disorders compared with their peers born from natural conception in sub-fertile couples.

It has been a concern in the past that babies born with the help of IVF are more at risk of such disorders because of the association with pre-term birth and low birth weight.

The new research was presented this week at the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.